Subsea cable system to connect India, Malaysia and Singapore

NEC Corporation, the communications technology company that began life as Nippon Electric Company in 1899, has signed a supply contract for the India–Southeast Asia (I-2SEA) submarine cable system connecting India, Malaysia and Singapore.

The contract was signed with a consortium of companies including Lightstorm, Microsoft, Singtel and Tata Communications.

Extending for approximately 3600 km, the fibre-optic cable system will provide a direct link between areas where some of India’s fastest-growing AI and hyperscale data centres are concentrated, including Hyderabad and Chennai, as well as Singapore, a premier cloud interconnection and AI hub, and Kuala Lumpur, the centre of Malaysia’s rapidly developing data centre corridor. The system is scheduled to begin operations in 2029.

“It is a great honour to participate in the I-2SEA construction project,” said Tomonori Uematsu, NEC Corporate SVP and Head of Submarine Network Division. “NEC is a leading vendor with over 60 years of experience in the submarine cable systems business.

“To date, the company has laid more than 450,000 km of submarine cables — equivalent to approximately 11 times around the Earth — and has a particularly strong track record in the Asia–Pacific region. Through our participation in this project, we will further contribute to strengthening the region’s digital infrastructure.”

The cable will address a growing demand for high-capacity communications driven by the expansion of generative AI and cloud services throughout the region. It’s also intended to support improved regional connectivity, diversification of communication routes and enhanced network resilience.

Image credit: iStock.com/Eoneren. Image used for illustrative purposes only.